Valentine's Day and its Misconceptions

By Oladotun Olumuyiwa F.

Every year, those who understand and believe in essence of Valentine day would in no doubt go out of their ways to express their love to not only their loved ones but those around them. Erroneously, perhaps out of ignorance or lack of understanding of what valentine’s day is all about, lots of people see valentine day as an avenue for ‘get away adventure’, throwing caution in the wind and commiting sexual immorality, this is well noticed and common amongst so called married men and women.

For these married couples, valentine day suppose to be an opportunity to rekindle that quenched flame of love, that has kept their marriage in the dark for months or even years. It is so disheartening that so many supposed responsible husbands and fathers would fabricate lies to their wives on how their business meetings and trips would fall exactly on the 14th of February. With such an excuse, no wife would want to be a clog in the wheel of her husband’s progress and prevent him from attending to his business where he earns his livelihood and home upkeep because of valentine day, she would definitely have no choice than to agree and let him attend his meeting, whereas he has an ulterior motive of spending the night that was suppose to be for his wife with another woman. What an high degree of unfaithfulness!It is saddening that a day that was set aside for a beautiful thing as ‘LOVE’ has been converted to a day of horrific activities.

It is a well known fact, that on Valentine’s Day, so many young adults, would definitely taste the forbidden fruits. As I write this blog, I know lot of them have already booked hotel suites for their ‘Valentine catch’ particularly those who do not have serious relationship before now and do not want to spend valentine alone.

When I was thinking on what to write on this year Valentine’s day, I did a little research on what brought about Valentine’s Day, I discovered that valentine day got its origin from Christianity but later hijacked and became secularized by both non-christains and even atheists. Contrary to the popular story around valentine’s day of how two lovers were burnt to death at stake for a particular crime or something. The true version of the story says Saint Valentine was a priest of Rome who was imprisoned for succouring persecuted Christians.

According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell. Today, Saint Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine’s Day, although on July 6 and July 30 across the world.

Well, if you ask me, Valentine is suppose to be done more in the House of God not in the nightclubs, joints, open bars etc. because God himself is love. So if valentine is about love then it about God! Valentine’s day should not be the reason for anyone to cheat on their partners or even defile your matrimonial bed because your husband who suppose to be with you on Valentine’s day is busy working somewhere thinking on how he would put food his family’s table.

It should be a day to remember to forgive those we feel had wronged us. Those that have caused us pain one way or the other, either through romantic relationship, office relationship and even church relationship etc. We should always try and eliminate sinister motives and intentions for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s day is indeed a special day for all of us!